Vacuum electric switch and plate



July 8, 1941. J BREWER 2,248,846

VACUUM ELECTRIC SWITCH AND PLATE Filed May 9, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jahn Bren er y 8, 1941- J. A. BREWER 2,248,846

VACUUM ELECTRIC SWITCH AND PLATE Filed May 9, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i t i i m... I, x

a4 [0211 H firewar Patented July 8, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,248,846 VACUUM ELECTRIC SWITCH AND PLATE John A. Brewer, Kalamazoo, Mich. Application May 9, 1940, Serial'No. 334,263 4 Claims. l. 200-33) 1 This invention relates to a vacuum controlled switch which will enable automatic opening at a predetermined time following the closing thereof.

It is aimed generally to provide such'a construction which is improved and simplified and rendered exceedingly inexpensive, and a construction which is well adapted for embodiment in a wall plate or switch plate, so that the structure as a whole may be substituted for an ordinary wall or switch plate and rendered operative by the connection of the necessary two wires for the electric circuit.

The more specific objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying. drawings illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a plate and switch embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a rear View of the parts of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side edge elevation of the parts of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional View taken on the plane of line 44 of Figure 1 with the parts in open position;

Figure 5 is a section substantially similar to that of Figure 4 with the parts in switch closing position;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevation with the rear cover plate removed;

Figure 7 is a section taken on the plane of line I'I of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 showing an intermediate stage of operation to close the switch;

Figure 9 is a section similar to Figure 7 showing the switch in closed position;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary elevation of a modified form of construction, and

Figure 11 is a cross section taken on the line ll--ll of Figure 10.

In carrying out the invention, a mounting or plate is provided at I 0 preferably of a size similar to a wall plate or switch plate such as is used in connection with a wall switch, so that the same may be substituted for the cover plate of the wall switch and the switch parts within the same and be fastened in place by the same screws or fastenings as at openings ll. Such plate l0 may be of any desired material and of one piece or composite as shown in that it has a facing l2.

The plate IE! is interiorly recessed as at [3 and therein a stationary contact M is mounted in coacting relation to a movable contact l5 and which contacts have terminals to which the conductor wires [6 of the circuit in which the device is connected, are attached.

Said Contact l5 has a disc or plate :1 and an extension 18, which are normally spaced from the contact I4 and so urged by the inherent resilience of the contact. Both contacts l4 and iii are preferably metallic. Disc or plate I! is connected with the remainder of the contact if: by a U- shaped neck at 19.

A vacuum cup 23, usually of elastic rubber is provided and movable in the recess [3 so that its free marginal edge 2| will engage the disc IT and due to the vacuum within the cup, draw such disc l1 and extension I8 toward the Contact M, in order to close the electric circuit to the light or other device. The degree of vacuum engagement between the cup 20 and the disc I! is minutely determined, so that the closing of the switch for the period intended, will be predetermined, for instance three or four minutes, even less or much more, the control being determined by leakage through a narrow slit Ila cut in disc I1, diametrically thereof, with a thin knife or razor blade.

In order to control the transverse movement of the vacuum cup toward and away from the disc [1, a leaf or strip spring 22 is provided across recess l3, its ends being anchored as at 23 in the plate. Intermediate its ends, said strip 22 has a convex portion 24 conforming to the convexity of the vacuum cup 20 and fastened to the latter by a rivet, bolt or the like 25. Said spring 22 is deformable at the portion 24 so as to be substantially straight as in Figure 8 and this result is accomplished by slidably mounting a depressor button 26 with a reduced shank 21, in an elongated slot 28 in the facing l2, such depressor button having an enlarged head exteriorly of the plate and being held in place by a pin or the like 29 passing through the shank on the opposite side of the facing 12. Such button 26 is nor mally at one end of the portion 24 or the other as in Figures 7 and 9 and it will be understood that the button 26 is manually engageable to slide it from one extremity of slot 28 to. the other, thereby depressing the strip portion 24 as in Figure 8 and causing the vacuum cup to engage the disc I! and through the continuous movement of the button 26, enable the resilience of portion 24 to restore the vacuum cup to its normal position moving with it the disc I! and contact portion I8 into circuit closing relation with the contact [4, which it maintains for the predetermined period of time, when the vacuum is automatically broken and the switch opened. For the succeeding operation of the switch, it will be understood that the movement of the button 26 will be in the opposite direction.

A closure plate 30 is provided at the rear of the recess [3, being held in place by screws or other fastenings 3!.

In Figures 10 and 11, one of the many modified forms which may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the invention, is shown. This form difiers from the preceding form only in the means whereby the suction cup is mounted and controlled. The suction cup in this instance is designated 20 and co-acts with the contact l5 at disc portion H in exactly the same manner as in the first form. This form has a push button 32 integral with the cup 20', slidably mounted in and extending outwardly beyond a wall 33 of an extension 34 of the facing of the plate or the like. An arcuate metallic wire spring 35 or the equivalent passes through the push button 32 and has its terminals anchored in the extension 34. The resilience of spring 35 is such as to normally maintain the vacuum cup 20' retracted as shown in Figure 11 with the contacts in open position. However, in order to close the switch, the button 32 is pressed inwardly to contact the disc I! and then released so that the spring 35 will restore the vacuum cup to its normal position, the latter moving with it the contact disc I! and closing the switch, which automatically opens at the predetermined time, through the leakage of air through air channel provided by slit [1a in disc or plate I1 into the same.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device of the class described having a pair of contacts, a vacuum cup movable bodily into engagement with one of the contacts to move it to closed position to maintain it in closed relation to the other, and deformable spring means mounting the vacuum cup for movement bodily into engagement with the co-acting contact.

2. A device of the class described having a pair of contacts, a vacuum cup engageable with one of the contacts to maintain it in closed rela tion to the other, deformable spring means mounting the vacuum cup for engagement with the co-acting contact, said spring means having an arcuate portion normally maintaining the vacuum cup retracted and returnable to normal shape through its resilience.

3. A device of the class described having contacts, a vacuum cup engageable with one of the contacts to maintain it in closing relation to the other for a predetermined period of time, a spring mounting said vacuum cup, said spring having a depressible portion, and a slide movable over said depressible portion to move the vacuum cup into engagement with the co-acting contact.

4. A device of the class described having contacts, a vacuum cup engageable with one of the contacts to maintain it in closing relation to the other for a predetermined period of time, a spring mounting said vacuum cup, said spring having a depressible portion, a slide movable over said depressible portion to move the vacuum cup into engagement with the co-acting contact, and a part having an elongated slot slidably mounting said button.

JOHN A. BREWER. 

